Kilcolman derives its name from Cill Cholmáin, the church of St. Colman. The church was destroyed during the Confederate War of 1641 and was never rebuilt.

Christianity came to Limerick in the fifth century and many small churches sprang up. These types of churches were known as a Cill, and hence the prefix Kil in many placenames.

In the RC (Roman Catholic) divisions, the parish is head of a union or district called Coolcappagh comprising also of the parish of Kilcolman.

Castle Egney was the most prominent castle in the area but now only one square tower remains. Edmund Spencer spent some of the happiest and some of the most wretched days of his life in it. He may have come to Ireland in 1577 as a messenger for the Earl of Leicester. He was in Ireland in 1580 as secretary to Lord Grey of Wolton, who was Lord Deputy of Ireland.

There is one holy well in Kilcolman called Tobercolmán, which has its Pattern day on the 29 October.

The water is said to cure many ailments.

Legend: The well moved when profaned. A woman taking water for domestic use saw a human hand in the well.